Digital nomads and van-lifers rejoice: SpaceX’s Starlink Mini is now available everywhere in the US. The small antenna costs $599 and requires a monthly subscription of $50 to $165.
Thanks to thousands of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, Starlink has the unique ability to send high-speed internet just about anywhere. Standard service is great for home internet in rural areas, while the provider's Roam service and new portable dish are ideal for staying connected on the go.
The small, portable antenna costs $599 and requires a monthly subscription to a Starlink Roam plan, starting between $50 and $165. Starlink Roam has no contracts, so you can start and stop service anytime, and it comes with a 30-day trial.
The Mini is a satellite dish and Wi-Fi router all in one that's about the size of a laptop. According to Starlink's website, it uses approximately half the power of Starlink's standard dish. It can be powered with a portable USB battery and can "melt snow and withstand sleet, heavy rain and harsh winds."
This is the first time that high-speed internet will be available on the go in areas that aren’t reached by cell towers. You could backpack the Appalachian Trail or take your RV on a cross-country road trip and still stream Deadpool & Wolverine at the end of the day.
Don't let the size of this satellite dish fool you; you can connect up to 128 devices, and it promises low latency. This is especially important for online gaming. In other words, you can game comfortably wherever your travels take you.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk discussed the Mini in a post on X in June, writing, "I just set it up right now and am writing this post through space. Took less than 5 mins. Easily carried in a backpack. This product will change the world." Musk then showed speed test results of 100Mbps download speed, 11.5Mbps upload speed and 23ms latency.
Starlink says the Mini will work anywhere in North America. There are two plans available. The Mini Roam costs $50 a month and gets you 50GB of portable or in-motion data each month, or about 20 hours of HD streaming. The Roam Unlimited plan costs $165 and provides unlimited mobile data, in-motion use and two months of international use.
The device measures 16.92x13.14x3.11 inches and weighs a little under 15 pounds. Starlink says it works in temperatures between -22 degrees Fahrenheit and 122 F. It's IP67 dust- and water-resistant.
At 17 x 13 inches, the new Starlink Mini Dish is much smaller than the standard dish.
Where is the Starlink Mini available?
Is the Starlink Mini expensive?
Hardware alone will cost you upwards of $599 and depending on your chosen plan, the subscription will run between $50 to $165 monthly. Starlink boasts the fastest speeds among satellite internet providers like Hughesnet and Viasat, its service is also more costly. For instance, Hughesnet's plans cost between $50 to $95 a month with an upfront equipment cost of up to $450. Even if you're on Hughesnet's fastest speed tier, your first monthly bill will likely come down to $545 vs. $764 with the Starlink Mini regional plan.